Method of neutralizing sulphur-bearing



Oct. 11, 1960 2,955,908

R. K. REMER METHOD OF NEUTRALIZING SULPHUR-BEARING COMPOUNDS IN THE ATMOSPHERE Filed June 5, 1957 INVENTOR. ROBERT K. EMER BY Lam/w 4 Ei l-J- United States Patent Filed runes, fissziserino 663,063

*11 Claims. 01. Ii -2C5) Generally, my invention relates to amethod by means of which sulphur-bearing compounds present in the atmosphere may be neutralized.

vMore specifically, my invention relates to' a method by means of which sulphur-.bearing'compounds, present the atmosphere of an'enclosure, may be'neutralized.

It is a generally accepted fact that allair, especially that in the atmosphere surrounding industrialcentermcont-ain certain sulphur compounds, such as hydrogen-sulfide and sulphur dioxide, These sulphur compounds, even "in the minute quantities commonly found in the normal atmosphere, react with metals, .notably silver, and cause surface degradation, such as tarnishing.

Everyone is familiar with the problem of tarnishing'on silver used in ornamental and artistic articles, and the labor and money necessarily expended to keep such articles lustrous. However, the tarnishing of silver-presents a particular problem in the maintenance of elee-' trical apparatus in which silver is employed in electrical conductors or contacts.

In many industrial situations where electrical conductivity and resistance is of 'a highly critical nature, such as in radio and television transmitting stations, silver is employed in electrical conductors or contacts, since its electrical conductivity is great, and fluctuations :in its conductive properties caused by temperature changes and other outside factors, is minimal, in comparison with other conductors. When silver begins to tarnish, the conductivity and resistance of the metal is caused to vary greatly, depending uponthe amount of tarnish. i

Heretofore, the only method of combating the tarnishing of silver in such installations 'has'beenifre'quent' polishing, which, particularly in cases where a large amount of silveris employed, is virtually a never-ending task.

Since sulphur-bearing compounds contained in the atmosphere are the primary cause of silver tarnishing, it is the premise of my invention that the neutralization of such compounds would reduce substantially the amount of labor and money expended in keeping silver tarnishfree.

Although the tarnishing of silver is, perhaps, the most readily apparent effect of sulphunbe'aring compounds in the atmosphere, it shouldalso'be understood that many other undesired eilects are caused by such compounds.

The main object of my invention is to provide a method by means of which sulphur-hearing compounds in the atmosphere may be neutralized.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method by means of which sulphur-bearing compounds may be neutralized and removed from a controlled current of air.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a self-regenerating method for the neutralization and removal of sulphur-bearing compounds from the air.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in' connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. *1 "is 'a diagrammatic view, partially broken away,

Patented Oct. lip-1960 of a blower used in one method-of practicing lmy inven tion; and

Fig. Zris Ta viewcf a vaporizer which may :be used in another method :of-practicingthe invention.

In Fig. l I have shown a blower 10 of conventiona construction (except as hereinafter described) for transmitting outside air into an enclosed area .in which -th'e apparatus to beprotected is located. 'intakeporti'on 11 of the blower extends beyond an outside wallll and aian, shown in outline at 13 directs the .air through .a

conduit 14 which extends through a wall 15 of the en-.

closed area, indicated at 16. This area may be a machin'eryroorn or :compartment :in which I have shown diagrammatically. afp'an'e'l Zb'oard or othermo'untin'g :17 for anelectrical apparatus. The outl'et of the conduit 14 is provided with a filteri l's *he'ld in'pla'ce by 'a bracket 19. The filter'l provides azmeans by'whic'h the sulphur-bearing compounds :are' neutralized and-removed fr'orn the "air COIIduCltB'ClithIOIIghlSSld blOWl. 1

Thefilterimaylbe fabricated from fibers of cotton, wool,- silk, nylon, glass, Dacron, or regenera-ted cellulose. The base material thereof is impregnated with a mixture of chemicals which, upon cont acting sulphur-bearing particles in the air which is to be blown 'therethrough, neutralize such particles and cause them to be "retainedin the'filter. Acomb'inationof chemical compounds which I have discovered from experimentation to be well-suited for impregnating the fiabr-ici-n" order to "impart such qualities thereto is a mixture of zinc acetate; a glycol; acetic acid, and hydrazine sulphate. The interaction of these chemicals causes the filter to be regenerated [in mau nerhereinafter described. 7 ;j

The specific function of the zinc acetate in-the filter; is to act as a reactant with the sulphur-bearing compounds contained in the air. Sulphur compounds have a great aflinity for zinc acetate, and when-they come'in'contact with such a compound,-they tend: to; join therewith in such manner as to be suspended within its=molecular structure.

The glycolacts as a'hu'mect-ant, collecting-water vapor from the air and causing the-body of the filter tobe damp at all times. I have found .fromexperimentatio-n that :a' filter which is slightlydampened is substantially more efficient than a dry filter. i j

The acetic acid tends to maintain the acidity of-tine fabric, which, during the course of-op'eration offfiltering the sulphur compounds from the air, would otherwise tend to become slightly alkaline.

'The hydrazine sulphate is "used as a catalyst. As'the sulphur-bearing compounds contact the zinc acetate, ziric sulphide is formed. Th'e'hydrazine sulphate causes such zinc sulphide to reduce itself into two 'less complex chemical compounds, zince acetate and an irreducible sulphur radical. The zinc acetate resulting from vsuch reduction continues to'attract sulphur-bearing compounds, and the sulphur radical is suspended within thebody of the filter. The sulphur radical being .a group of atoms occurs in the molecules of sulphur compounds and a; mains unchanged in the filter until regeneration of the, filter occurs.

As will be understood,.the above described chemical reaction effects a continuing regeneration of the zincacetate in the filter and causes the filter tobcextremely longlived.

The following has been found to be a suitable formulation of the above-mentioned chemicals for impregnating the body of the filter when this. method ofpracticingIt-h invention is employed:

Another way in which the invention may be practiced Sodium stearate 8 Isopropyl' myristate ;l Glycerine r V '6 Alcohol "65 Zinc acetate.

is toincorporate a zinc acetate compound in a candle A compound made from formulation may be placed in .a rectifier and molded into 'thecust'omary form of a candle. The sodium stearate and isopropyl myristate react together to form a wax which. constitutes thetbody of the candle. The glycerine and alcohol tend to dissolve, in. 1 8 the zinc acetate. Since -.both' the glycol and the alcohol are highly volatile compounds,'which are releasedwhen the candle burns, and since they contain portions of the zinc acetate which have been dissolved therein, they act as carriers to conduct the zinc acetate into the atmosphere to neutralize the sulphurbearing particles therein.

The candle may be placed in the usual type of holder having a socket to receive the end of the'candle, and the customary type 'of;wick may be used.,

Another formulation which is suitable for making such a candle is: a

, r a Parts Sodium stearate 8 Sorbitol 8 Zinc acetate 8 Isopropyl alcohol 75 vParts Soap flakes 10 Ammonia of 28% strength 3 Alcohol I 75 Zinc acetate 2Q Mannitol Such a formulation may be placed in a vaporizer indi- I claim:

1. A method ofneutralizing "sulphur-bearing compounds in the atmosphere of an enclosure containing electrical installations employing silver conductors and the like, comprising dispersing zinc acetate into the atmosphere within said enclosure.

2. A method of neutralizing sulphur-bearing comin the atmosphere ofwan, enclosure containing metal objects whicn'are adversely atIeeted by such com-' pounds, comprising dispersing a volatile" substance containing zinc acetate into, the atmosphere within said en; C10SI1I6.3"$;"; i

3. A regenerativemethod of neutralizing sulphur-bearing compounds in the atmosphere of an enclosure containing metal objects .whichare ,adyersely affected by such compounds, comprising conducting a stream of air containing such sulphur-bearing compounds into said enclosure through a mixture of .zinc acetate, a glycol, acetic acid and hydrazinesulphate;

4; A regenerative method of neutralizing sulphur beaI- ing compounds in the atmosphereo-f an enclosure con taining metal objects which areadverseily atfeeted by such-compounds,- comprising conducting a str eam of air containingrsuch sulphur-bearing compounds into said enclosure through a mixture of zinc acetate, a glycol, acetic acid' and a catalyst adapted to reduce the sulphur-bear ing compounds into zinc acetate and a sulphur radical.

5. A method of neutralizing sulphur-bearing com-- pounds in the atmosphere of an enclosure containing metal objects which are adversely affected by such com-- pounds, comprising releasing a-volatile substance in which zinc acetate is partially dissolved into the atmosphere of the enclosure. a

6. A method of neutralizing -sulphurbearing cornpounds in the, atmosphere'of an enclosure containing 'metal objects which are adversely affected by such compounds, comprising dissolving, zinc acetate in a composition which will arrest the volatility thereof under normal within the enclosure.

cated generally by the numeral 21 in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The soap flakes and the ammonia in this formulation combine to form a wax-like substance, a blockor bodyZZ of which may be placed in water or other 'suitable liquid 2.3 in the vaporizer. Heat is then applied'to thevaporizer as by a flame. The alcohol and mannimosphere of the fenclosure to neutralize the sulphur-bears a p nds the While several referred procedures "for practicingrny invention have been described herein, it will be'understood that modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spiritand' scope of the invention, and the specific disclosures herein contained should therefore r s aa il stra i e. 9 1 2:

temperatures but will release the same when heated, and applying heat to said composition, thereby liberating the volatile substance therefrom and causing the zinc acetateto be dispersed in the atmosphere Within the enclosure; 7. A method of. neutralizingsulphur-bearing com-- pounds in the. atmosphere of an enclosure containing metal objects which are adversely afiected by such com-. pounds, comprising dissolving zinc acetate in a composition comprising soap flakes, ammonia, alcohol and mannitol, which composition is stable within a normal range of temperature but will release the same when heated, 'and applying heat to said composition, thereby liberat-' ing the volatile substance contained therein and causing. the zinc acetate to be dispersed into the atmosphere 8. A method of neutralizing sulphur bearing com-z pounds in the atmosphere of an enclosure containing metal objects which are adversely affected by such Com-3 pounds, comprising dissolving zinc acetate in a volatile substance, incorporating such volatile substance in a candle, and burning such candle within the enclosure, thereby dispersing the zinc acetate contained therein into the atmosphere within such enclosure.

9'. A method of neutralizing a sulphurrbearing compound in theatmosphere of an enclosure containing metal objects which are adversely affected by such com-' pound, comprising burning in such enclosure alcandle made from a formula including sodium stearate isopropyl myristate, glycerine, alcohol and zinc acetate, thereby causing dispersion of the zinc acetate in the atmosphere within the enclosure to neutralize saidsulphurbearing compound. v

10. A method of neutralizing a sulphur bearing com-- pound in the atmosphere of an enclosure containing metal objects which are adversely affected by such compound,-

comprising burning in such enclosure a candle made 1 a formu a ud s i m t g sprb tol ls propyl alcohol and zinc acetate, thereby causing disper- References Cited in the file of this patent sion of the zinc acetate in the atmosphere within the enclosure to neutralize said sulphur-bearing compound. UNITED STATES PATENTS 11. A method of neutralizing su1phur-bearing com- 1,628,610 Osborne May 10, 1927 pounds in the atmosphere of an enclosure containing 5 2,323,804 Driscoll July 6, 1943 metal objects which are adversely afiected by such com- 2,516,340 Pirchio July 25, 1950 pounds, comprising conducting a stream of *air contain- 2,701,238 Renold Feb. 1, 1955 ing methyldichlorosilane, benzol, water and zinc acetate. 

8. A METHOD OF NEUTRALIZING SULPHUR-BEARING COMPOUNDS IN THE ATMOSPHERE OF AN ENCLOSURE CONTAINING METAL OBJECTS WHICH ARE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY SUCH COMPOUND, COMPRISING DISSOLVING ZINC ACETATE IN A VOLATILE SUBSTANCE, INCORPORATING SUCH VOLATILE SUBSTANCE IN A CANDLE, AND BURNING SUCH CANDLE WITHIN THE ENCLOSURE, THEREBY DISPERSING THE ZINC ACETATE CONTAINED THEREIN INTO THE ATMOSPHERE WITHIN SUCH ENCLOSURE. 